Control casing head



I New. 9 'QZ f@ M. T. ARCHER CONTROL CASING HEAD Filed Feb. 1, 1927 2Sheets-Shen 2 ATTORNEY' Patented Nov. 8, 1927. y

UNITED gSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

MER'JON T, ARCHER, 0F PITTSBURGH, '.PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THENATIONAL SUPPLY COMPANY, F TOLEDO, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CONTROL CASING HEAD.

- Application led February 1, 1927. Serial No. 165,102.

My invention relates to control vcasing heads for oil wells. In drillingoil wells the hole is in many cases lined with several concentricstrings of pipe or casing, the largest pipe being at the top and thesmaller sizes within the larger sizes and extending to greater depths,each size being ycemented off at its lower end. As each string of casingreaches the top of the well, means must be provided for suspending theAseveral strings so that, in case gas under high pressure is encountered,it will not damage the well. The object of this invention is to providea novel means for suspending the several strings of casing, and Jforuniting the several.

, strings into a unit which can not be accidently displaced orseparated. My invention comprises also the novel idea of'making the baseand the string suspending members in lateral sections which may bereadily connected into rigid annular members and as readily separatedinto their constituent sections. Other objects appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view ofa control casing head showing my invention, the left side being a sideelevation and the right side a vertical section. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with portions of thecasing 5 and the coupling 6 broken away to show the internal structure,the base ring 1a being shown in lateral sections. Fig. 3 is a fragmentshowing in vertical section a modication wherein the largest string ofcasing is supported diii'erently from .the manner shown in the otherviews. Figs. l and 5 are fragmentary vertical sectional views of twoother modiiications of the invention.

On Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates an annular base or ring having thehorizontal iange 2 resting on a suitable support, as cement 3, to whichit is connected, as'by bolts 4'. The internal diameter of the base 1 issuch that it will receive the largest casing' to be used in a well. Thiscasing 5 is screwed into a standard coupling 6 which rests on theintei-nal seat, shoulder, or ledge 7 in the base 1,

a packing ring 8 being interposed between.

the shoulder and the lower end of the coupling. A locking collar 9surrounds the coupling 6 and has an inturned flange 10 resting on thetop of the coupling. It is threaded externally-at its lower end andscrews into ltheinternal threads 11 in the base 1 somethe next head orring 13, the outwardly extending flange 14 at the lower end ot' the ring13 resting on the corresponding flange 15 at lthe upper end of the base.The pacifing ring 16 between the flanges makes the Joint between thebase and the ring i'luidtight after the flanges are drawn tightly towardeach other by the bolts 17. The ring 13 surrounds the collar 9 above thethreads far as the casing 5 and its coupling 6 are 11 and above the saidcollar turns inwardly to form the annular roof 18 whose central opening19 is made of a diameter to receive the casing 5L which has a smallerdiameter thantlie casing 5. The upper end of the casing 5a is screwedlnto the coupling 6 which rests on the ring packing 8a on the seat orshoulder 7 on the interior face of the ring 13. Ihe ring 13 .surroundsthe locking collar 91l having the inturned {iange 10 resting on the topof the coupling 6EL and provided with external threads screwed in the'internal threads 11B in the ring 13 somewhat above the packing ring 8a,so that the casing 5a and the coupling Ga are rigidly attached to thering or headl 13 and the joint at the packing ring 8a is madefluid-tight. The top of the collar 6a is provided with the notches 12afor the applica-tion of a bar or lever. f

The top of the head or ring 13 serves as abase or support for the heador ring 13, the heads or rings being provided with the registeringexternal flanges 14a and 15a, whichr are secured together by the bolts17a, the packing-ring 16a being seated between the anges. The ring 13has the annular roof 18a which overhangs the collar 9a and has ico v thecoupling to make a gas-tight joint at 5a, and the' lower end of thecoupling 6, and

vlateral halves provided with registering ver- .pling are lowered withthe casing 5a in the casing 5 until the lower end of the coupling theshoulder 7 a at the said level, the sections the opening 19 to receivethe casing 5 so that the couplingl 6I1 rests on the ackwhich has asmaller diameter than .the casl ing 8 on the seat 7n. A pipe wrench oldsthe coupling 6a while the nipple is being screwed out of the cou ling;the locking ring 9 is applied to the tireads 11a to lock the coupling 6nto the ring 13. The pipe 5" with in 5a.

Ilie upper end of the casing 5" is screwed into the coupling'h whichrests on thc packing ring 8" on the internal shoulder lb in the ring 13.The collar 9" (only the lower por-v tion shown) for clamping thecoupling 6" to the ring 13u is screwed into the internal threads 11b inthe ring 13".

The top of the ring or head 13a may serve as a base or support foranother ring for suspending a still smaller pipe 5, or for supportingthe usual casing head cap. Any desired number of heads or rings may besuperposed in the manner described, for suspending concentric strings ofcasing.

I prefer to divide the heads or rings into packing ring 8h in the manneralready described with respect to the casings 5 and 5a and theircouplings,'the sections of ring 13a having been -assembled in an obviousmanner around the casing 5a and the locking ring .9a and securedtogether by the bolts 22 and to the ring 13 by the bolts 17u extendingthrough the lianges 14a and 15a.

As shown in the lower end of Fig. 2, the base 1, may be. divided intolateral sections secured together by the bolts 22 passed through the4vertical flan es`21 thereon, the base 1a having the divided horizontalflanges 2a. 'Ihe split base provides means whereby the sections 'may bemoved laterally beneath the coupling 6 while it and the casing 5 aresuspended by -the usual nipple, not shown. In the manner above describedother strings of casing may be seated on still smaller rings superposedon the ring 13.

v If referred, each casing and its coupling may e assembled in itsassembled ring or head and then all three lowered to their of packing 8being on the shoulder 7, the places by means of a hoisting deviceconassembled casing 5 and coupling 6 being susnected to 'the hooks 24.By this method the pended by a derrick hoist attached in the e describednipples are not screwed into the usual manner to a pipe or nipple (notupper ends of the couplings. shown) screwed into the upper end of e InFig. 3, a ring 25 has a bottom flange 26 coupling 6, the assembledcasing and eou' threaded externally and screwed into the4 top pling arelowered lwith the casing 5 inthe of the coupling 6, the inner face ofthe ring base until the lower end of the coupling-rests being spacedfrom the casing 5*. The ring on the packin ring 8. A pipe wrench is 25has the outwardly extending flange 27, connected to tie cou ling to hold`lit from bolted to the flange 14.- on the ring or head turning whilethe sai nipple is screwed out 13', there being a packing ring 16 betweenof the coupling. The locking ring 9 is then the flanges. The. collar 9ais screwed on the slid down on the coupling 6 and /screwed in threads 11on the inner face of the ring 13. the threads 11 until the flange 10 hasen- The top of the ring 13 forms a seat for the gaged the top of thecoupling and caused next ring or head like 132 15 being a flange on thering 13 for couplmg the ring 13 to the flange 14a on the ring 13a. Thering 25 has openings, only one, marked 28, being shown, whichcommunicates with the space between the casing 5a and the coupling 6, towhich opening an off-take tube like 23 may be attached.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the same reference characters are used as in Fig. 1where the parts are identical. When the same numerals are used as inFig. 1 but with different letters, the partsy are similar in structurebut those of Figs. 4 and 5 are somewhat modified.

In Fig. 4, the rings 13x and 13y have plane horizontal bases or roofs18x and.l8y which lie directly on the tops of the next lower rings, thetops of the rings being extended up above the tops of the adjacentlocking collars.` This form of the invention is somewhat more easilymanufactured, but does not tical flanges 20, to which bolts 22 areapplied for drawing the halves tightly together.

The ring or head 13 is provided with a suitable number of later pipes 23which communicate with the space beneath the roof 18, and the ring 13uhas a suitable number of similar pipes 23 (only one shown) communicatlngwith the space beneath the roofs 18 and 18a. These pipes and theirfunction are old and need not be further described. The base 1 or 1albeing in place, the ring the packing ring 8.

The casing 5a having the coupling 6*?L screwed on its upper end is thensuspended from a hoist by a nipple screwed into the coupling 6. Theassembled pipe and cou- 6 is somewhat above the level at which theshoulder 7a will be when the ring 13 is placed on the ring 1 or 1B. Thecasing 5a and the coupling 6a being suspended with a of the ring 13 aremoved in laterally so as to surround the locking ring 9, the casing tobe seated on the ring 1 or la. The flanges 14 and 15 are fastenedtogether by the bolts 17, and the flanges 20 lare secured together bythe .bolts 22. The casing 5 is then lowered its coupling 6* is appliedto its seat on the' fifi inn

invention shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5, the parts are substantially7 as in Fig. 4, except that thelocking rings 9x and 9y arc merely plain rings seated on the tops of thecouplings 6" and 6b and drawn down on the tops thereof by the bolts 29and 29'L carried by the lugs 30 and 30 on the interior surfaces of therings 13x and 13% I claim- 1. In a device of the class described, aringhaving an opening to receive a well casing and provided with aninternal shoulder' io support a coupling screwed on the upper end of thecasing, a collar surrounding the coupling and adapted to engage thetop'of the coupling and having rigid connect1on with the ring, and asecond ring surrounding the collar and attached to the Iirst ring, thesecond ring having an internal shoulder to support a coupling screwed onthe upper end of a second well casing concentric with the first casing.

2. In a device of the class described, a ring having an opening toreceive a well casing and provided with an internal shoulder to supporta coupling screwed on the upper end of the casing, a collar surroundingthe coupling and adapted to engage the top of the coupling and havingrigid connection with the ring, and a second ring' surrounding thecollar attached to the irst ring, the second ring having an internalshoulder to support a coupling screwed on the upper end of a second wellcasing concentric with the first casing, the said rings being made inlateral sections, whereby the sections may be assembled into completerings around the casings while the casings are suspended and the bottomsof the collars are held above the said shoulders.

3. In a device of the class described, a ring having an opening toyreceive a well casing and provided with an internal shoulder to supporta coupling screwed on the upper end of the casing, a collar engaging thetop of the coupling and having rigid connection with the ring, and asecond ring surrounding the collar and attached t0 the first ring, thesecond ring having an internal shoulder to support a coupling screwed onthe upper end ot' a second well casing concentric with the first casing.

4. In a device of the class described, a ring having an openingtoreceive a well casing and provided with an internal shoulder to supporta coupling screwed on the upper end of the casing, a collar engaging thetop of the coupling and having rigid connection with the ring, and asecond ring surrounding the collar and attached to the first ring, thesecond ring having an internal shoulder to support a coupling screwed onthe upper end of a second well casing concentric with the first casing,the said rings being made in allow tongs to be used as in the form oflateral sections, whereby the sections may be assembled into completerings around the casmgs whlle the casmgs are suspended and the bottomsof the collars are held above the said shoulders.

5. In a device' of the class described, a ring havlng an opening toreceive a well casing and provlded with an internal shoulder to supporta couphng screwed on the upper end of the casing, a collar to hold thecoupling on the shoulder, a second ring having an internal shoulder tosupport a coupling screwed on the upper end of a second well casingconcentric with the first casing, and a collar to hold the secondcoupling on the second shoulder, the said rings being made in lateralsections, whereby the sections 'may be assembled into complete ringsaround the casings while the casings are suspended and the bottoms ofthe collars are held above the said shoulders.

6. In a device of the class described, a ring having a central openingto receive a well casing and an internal shoulder to support a couplingon thecasing in said opening, a collar connected to the ring andclamping the coupling to the shoulder, a second ring supported on thelirst ring and having a top wallover the said casing and coupling and.casing'within and concentric with 'the first` casing and an internalshoulder around the opening, a coupling connected to the top of thesecond casing and resting on the second shoulder, and means attached tothe second ring for loc-king the second coupling in fixed relation withthe second internal shoulder.

7. In a device of the class described, a ring having a central openingto receive a well casing and an internal sioulder to support a couplingon the casing in said opening, a collar connected to the ring andclamping the coupling to the shoulder, a second ring supported on therst ring and having a top wall over the said casing and coupling andhaving a central opening for a second well casing within and concentricwith the first casing and an internal shoulder around the opening, acoupling connected to the top of the second casing and resting on thesecond shoulder, and means attached to the second ring for locking thesecond coupling in fixed relation with the second internal shoulder, therings being made in lateral sections for assembly around the casingswith their internal shoulders beneath couplings on the casings while thecasings are suspended.

8. In a device of the class described, a ring having an opening toreceive a well casing the eouplin'", and having adjustable connectionWith 't e ring, and a second ring surrounding the collar and seated onthe first ring, the second ring having an internal shoulder to support acoupling screwed on the upper end of a second Well casing concentricwith the first casing.

9. In a device of the class described, a ring having an opening toreceive a Well casing and provided with an internal shoulder to supporta coupling screwed on the upper end of the casing, a collar surroundingthe coupling and adapted to engage the top of the coupling and haverigid connection with the ring, and a second ring supported by the firstring, the second ring adapted to support a second Well casing Within andconcentric to the first casing.

10. In a device of the class described, a rino having an opening toreceive a Well casiang and provided with an internal shoulder to supporta coupling screwed on the upper end of the casing, a locking collaradapted to engage the top of coupling, means for substantiallyconnecting said locking collar to the ring, and a second ring supportedby the first ring, the second ring adapted to support a second wellcasing Within and concentric to the first casing.

11. In a; device of the class described, a ring having a central openingto receive a casing'and an internal shoulder around the opening tosupport the casing, a collar around thev casing and adapted to engagethe top of casing and having rigid connection with the ring, a secondring, a seat on the top of the first ring for receiving the second ring,and top and bottom external flangesv for attaching the first ring to itssupport and to the second ring.

12. In a device of the class described, a ring having a central openingto receive a casing and an internal shoulder around the lopening tosupport the casing, a collar around the casing and adapted to engage thetop of casing and having rigid connection with the ring, a second ring,a seat on the top of' the first ring for receiving the second ring, andtop and bottom external flanges for 4'attaching the first ring to itssupport and to the second ring, the rings being made in lateral sectionsfor assembly around the casings with their internal shoulders beneathcouplings on the casings While the casings are suspended.

13. In a device of the class described, a series of superimposedconcentric rings of progressively smaller diameters from below upwardly,each ring having an internal annular shoulder for supporting a string ofcasing, the diameter of the shoulders being such as to pass the casingbut not a coupling thereon, and a collar having rigid connection witheach ring and ositioned around the coupling supported by the ring andadapted to engage the top of the coupling.

14. In a device of the class described, a series of superimposedconcentric rings of progressively smaller diameters from below upwardly,each ring having an internal annular shoulder for supporting a string ofcasing, the diameter of the shoulder being such as to pass the casingbut not a coupling thereon, a collar having rigid connection with eachring and positioned around the coupling su ported by the ring andadapted to engage t 1e top of the coupling, the rings and collars beingmade in lateral sections so that they may be assembled around the thecasings with the shoulders beneath the coupling While the casings. aresuspended.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

MERTON T. ARCHER.

